Bill Cooper thought Imokilly's glory days were behind them

The 36-year-old Cooper said Imokilly's younger players want to emulate their more experienced teammates by winning a county medal. 

Imokilly’s Bill Cooper celebrates after the 2018 Cork SHC final. Picture: ©INPHO/Oisin Keniry

Let’s begin by going back to 2018. Imokilly’s county title defence that season was strengthened by a raft of new and returning faces.

Barry Lawton was home from Australia. Corner-back Mike Russell, who’d missed the previous year’s success because of a ruptured cruciate, had removed his name from the injury list.